RHoD 5e IC

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 31/31, AC: 16

The mots of light dissipate after Ayalla gets struck by an arrow and looses focus.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cure Wounds 2nd level spell slot (2d8+4)[16] on Wuffles, then move into cover behind the nearby tree. Will drop prone if necessary.
Send Wuffles to attack the one just north of the building.
Bite: (1d20+6)[9], piercing damage (2d4+3)[6], if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw (1d20)[7] or be knocked prone.

[IcemanJRC]

Bernard "Bernie" Thierry Human Chaplain Fighter AC: 18 HP: 10/54 Hit Dice: 5/5 PPer: 15 PInv: 13 PIst: 15 Conditions: Stubborn Survivor (After being reduced to half hit points or less, you add +2 to all saving throws you make for 1 minute. 9/10 rounds)

As they tussle, Bernie takes two quick strikes on the downed hobgoblin, hoping to finish them off before they can down him in return.

Spoiler

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Turn starts, Action: Attack twice against prone Hobgoblin with one-handed Moon-Touched Longsword. (d20+7)[11] (d20+7)[8] vs AC for (d8+4)[8] magical slashing damage.
(d20+7)[25] (d20+7)[16] vs AC for (d8+4)[8] magical slashing damage.

[Amnestic]

A barrage of flame flies towards the cleric, who erroneously believed himself nestled safely in the treeline. The scorching rays and elemental blast of Leif burn holes through his chest, while Paul's firebolt slams into the face, igniting his facial hair and causing a brief scream of agony before he collapses, death mercifully taking the man. The dragon claw blips out of existence as the magic maintaining it fails. The spellcaster dealt with, Paul's cannon retargets to the other priority, sending a blast of arcane into its side. Such a movement doesn't breake Bernie's stoic grip on the writing dual wielder though. He shifts beneath the warrior's grasp as they exchange blows - one of Bernie's landing, while both of the hobgoblin's find on glancing blows on the thick metal armour.

Wuffles leaps southward to strike at the remaining pair, but the warriors are emboldened by their leader continuing to fight even stuck on the ground. They push up their arm to take the beast's jaws full on, and swiftly retaliate with a slash against its back, though Wuffles stays standing thanks to Ayalla's swift blessing of healing magic. Another arrow flies Paul's way, but he deftly ducks beneath it.

Spoiler: Map

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Between Leif and Paul, they kill the Cleric from max to 0, within enough damage to move the cannon shot back to the leader-hob (disadvantage roll: 19=hit).
Bernie hits once, for 8, on the leader. He swings back and misses with both attacks - one of which due to disadvantage from being stuck prone. Leader hob looks maybe 1-3 attacks from death.
Wuffles misses their attack on the hob-warrior. It takes 16 from a slash in return. The other blue hob misses.

The remaining red hob runs up and shoots an arrow at Paul, that misses.


Everyone's up.


Initiative Order:
Wuffles: (1d20)[18]
Bernie: (1d20)[18]

HH: (1d20)[18]
LH: (1d20)[15]
BH: (1d20)[7]
RH: (1d20)[6]

Leif:(1d20)[5]
Ayalla:(1d20)[4]
Paul:(1d20+1)[4]

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 26/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 1/3, 3rd: 1/2

Content that the Cleric little more than a charred corpse, Leif pat's Calcifer on the head and then turns her attention to the hobgoblin deep in combat with Bernard.

Spoiler

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Leif casts Healing Word on Bernard, healing him for (2d4+4)[9] hit points.
Then she casts Thorn Whip (melee spell attack so it won't have disadvantage against a prone enemy); to hit: (1d20+8)[28], damage: (2d6)[3]

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 38/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

"Bernie, you doing okay?" Paul moves 15' to the west and starts flinging spellfire at the standing hobgoblins near Wuffles.

Spoiler

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Shooting at Hob Blue, then the Hob Red near him. Ignore half cover if Wuffles gets in the way.
Fire Bolt (1d20+8)[19] for (2d10)[12] plus (1d8)[3] fire
Eldritch Cannon (1d20+8)[25] for (2d8)[7] force damage and 5' pushback on hit

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 15/31, AC: 16

Ayalla calls upon the spirits to strike down the archer before ducking back behind cover.

Spoiler: OOC

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Hit the last red with Sacred Flame, Wuffles will try again on the warrior.
Sacred Flame: DC 15 Dex save (1d20)[5] or take (2d8)[7] radiant damage. The target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw.
Bite: (1d20+6)[25], piercing damage (2d4+3)[10], if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw (1d20)[8] or be knocked prone.

[IcemanJRC]

Bernard "Bernie" Thierry Human Chaplain Fighter AC: 18 HP: 19/54 Hit Dice: 5/5 PPer: 15 PInv: 13 PIst: 15 Conditions: Stubborn Survivor (After being reduced to half hit points or less, you add +2 to all saving throws you make for 1 minute. 8/10 rounds)

I've got it! I'm okay.
Bernie waves off Paul and Leif and slams the hobgoblin against the ground by its collar.

Just one minute, I promise!

Spoiler

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Turn starts, Action: Attack twice against prone Hobgoblin with one-handed Moon-Touched Longsword. (d20+7)[17] (d20+7)[27] vs AC for (d8+4)[8] magical slashing damage.
(d20+7)[15] (d20+7)[13] vs AC for (d8+4)[11] magical slashing damage.

[Amnestic]

A scraped fiery thorn whip rakes across the dual wielder's face and when Bernie reaches down with his sword once more it swipes across the creature's open neck, removing head from shoulders in a single clean slice that sends the formerly-attached noggin rolling into the bushes. Wuffles and Paul together bring down the pair assailing the wolf, another bolt of fire and blast of magic skewering one through the neck, while the wolf's maw tore out the belly of the other.

Scorched by Ayalla's sacred flame, the final standing hobgoblin breaks, dropping his weapons and turning on the spot to flee into the woods. His flight avails him nothing, however, and the party descends on him swiftly, bringing an end to the final combatant.

An investigation of the bodies finds them with minimal equipment - the bare essentials for what looks to have been a regimented job of ambushing travelers on the roads. Checking the farmhouse from which the cleric and dual wielder appeared from finds a moderate sum of gold in a pouch, along with some sundries and other wares that were likely carried by merchants. Crates of salted food, broken open and feasted on, indicate they've been here for at least longer than a day or two.

Spoiler: OOC

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With only one severely injured hob warrior remaining, I'll not waste everyone's time on another round of turns. No longer a threat at this point.

Notable Loot:-
The cleric's holy symbol which can be identified with a DC10 Religion check as

Spoiler: Religion

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Tiamat, the Chromatic Queen of evil dragons.

In addition, one potion of healing and two scrolls: One of Armour of Agathys, and one of Continual Flame.

Gonna give the party a moment to recover and do any patching, short rest, sheet updating, etc. and then we'll move along.

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 32/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Paul picks up the holy symbol as they drag the bodies together. "I recognize this. Tiamat, the evil goddess of dragons. 5 heads, different colors? I didn't think goblins followed a dragon god.

Everyone equipped the same, no extra gear, no old loot... this wasn't just an isolated camp of bandits. There are going to be more of them somewhere around here."

As the group bandages their wounds, Paul sends his homunculus up to fly around high in the sky and look for any bandits or anything moving for a couple of miles around, and report back.

"What do we do with the bodies? Leave them, spend some time digging, or burn them and make a pillar of smoke?"

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

With the hobgoblins dispatched Ayalla makes some tea and restorative snacks.

Spoiler: OOC

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As part of a short rest, you can cook special food, provided you have ingredients and cook's utensils on hand. You can prepare enough of this food for a number of creatures equal to 4 + your proficiency bonus. At the end of the short rest, any creature who eats the food and spends one or more Hit Dice to regain hit points regains an extra 1d8 hit points.
Wuffles HD roll: (2d8)[9]

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 33/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 1/3, 3rd: 1/2

"Why would an organised group set up ambushes like this?" Leif wondered aloud, "They weren't exactly picky about their targets, either, if they were willing to attack us."

A moment later. "You think there are more groups like this on other roads? We should warn the nearest town."

Calcifer, the little ball of fire that he is, puffs up his face in annoyance.

Spoiler

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Short rest heal, one hit die plus Ayalla's snacks for (2d8+2)[7] hit points.

[IcemanJRC]

Bernard "Bernie" Thierry Human Chaplain Fighter AC: 18 HP: 47/54 Hit Dice: 4/5 PPer: 15 PInv: 13 PIst: 15 Conditions: --

No need to bother with any of that I'd say, whoever these ones were working for will know something's wrong when nobody's around. Not fooling anybody with a couple shallow graves.

Bernie clips a bandage around his middle and sips some of Ayalla's fresh brewed tea.

All things considered, this is about what we expected, right? Though a bit more organized an opposition maybe... I'd bet they already know about it up in Drellin's Ferry. Maybe there's even a reward. We'll grab their colors, and Paul's got the symbol, that oughta be enough.

He smiles and finishes his cup, standing to look around again,
Lovely as always, young Ms. Ayalla. I'm sufficiently patched up, so no need to wait on me. Are we ready to keep marching? Gotta keep up the pace if we wanna reach town before evening.

Spoiler

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Spend 1 Hit Die for 1d10+4 (13) doubled by Periapt of Wound Closure plus 1d8 (2) for a total of 28 healing.
Tavern Brawler retrained to Heavy Armor Master.

[Amnestic]

Once you finish patching up and taking a quick breather, you leave the bodies where they lay - save perhaps for dragging them from the path - and continue on for the remaining miles of your trek.

After some time, the road descends into a small town built mostly along the side of a broad, sluggish river. Six old stone piers jut from the water, marking the spot where a bridge once stood, but the spanning stone itself is long gone. Instead, a couple of long thick ropes cross the river, each secured to a flat-bottomed ferryboat. Brown fields and green orchards surround the town. A group of armed townsfolk - three in leather, one in mail - stand guard. They watch you with some wariness, but in truth their concerned glances seem beyond you, towards the trees and fields. One speaks up. "Halt and state your business, strangers."

Spoiler: OOC

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Forgot to mention it, but the encounter was a Deadly one, so you're all up 15 experience (out of 100) at the moment.

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

"Well met, we are travelers in search of fame an fortune."

Spoiler: OOC

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Persuasion: (1d20+10)[24]

[Amnestic]

"Adventurers, are ye?" The townguard ruminates for a moment, giving you another once over but evidently deciding you're a threat (from your attitude, rather than skill, the trio behind him don't look too enthusiastic about putting up a guard against you). "You staying or just passing through? Might be the town's got paying work for you, if you're not already on a job."

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

"I think we could spare a few minutes to help the town."
Ayalla looks at her companions for confirmation.
"May I introduce myself, I am Ayalla Nazonda." She says with a bow.

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 37/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

"Paul." The half-orc tips his wide-brimmed hat slightly. "We were planning to pass through, but extra work that pays is always good. Already took care of some hobgoblin bandits a few miles back...would your problem be related to them?"

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 33/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 1/3, 3rd: 1/2

Almost on reflex, when the guard calls to the group Leif lifts her hood to cover her face and stays behind the others.

"Just call me Leif," she says quietly.

[Amnestic]

"You saw them? Where?" The guard is quick to respond, but reins himself in just as quickly. "No, no, better you speak to our Captain more than us - she'll want to hear it from you direct. We've been having problems with bands of the blighting savages for days now. Travelers have slowed to a trickle and everyone's on edge. Normally it'd just be one of us out here, but now we've got four at a time." He gives a quiet nod to one of them, who heads off running. "Welcome to Drellin's Ferry. Probably don't need to tell you but don't cause any trouble." He turns and points beyond himself down into the little town, noting locations.

"Area in the middle with the big tree is the Green, that's the centre of town. Far side is the town hall, that's where the Captain'll be. To the north and south are inns - Green Apple and Old Bridge Inn. That one's where you want to go if you've got coin to burn. There's a Pelor shrine over yonder too if you want to pray. I'd like to tell you to go see the Captain first, but...eh, I wouldn't worry too much. If you go grab a drink or go for a stroll I'm sure she'll find you soon enough. Town ain't that big," he adds with a chuckle. "Can answer any questions if you've got 'em, but chances are the Captain will know better about the hobs, so you'd be better speaking to her about them."

[IcemanJRC]

Bernard "Bernie" Thierry Human Chaplain Fighter AC: 18 HP: 47/54 Hit Dice: 4/5 PPer: 15 PInv: 13 PIst: 15 Conditions: --

No need to hold yourself back, buddy! They were a couple miles up the road. Set for ambushes, more than a half dozen of them with a couple of fiendish hounds. Not exactly an overwhelming force, but more than the unprepared could handle nine times out of ten. We've taken care of the lot of them, but it sounds like they weren't exactly acting independently.

Bernie laughs and tries to be a bit friendly to the militia from the middle of nowhere, but his body language is clear, he's hoping to walk right past them to the Captain. He looks to his traveling companions and gestures to the town at large,

Let's go talk to this "Captain" and see what kinda war chest they're working with. Lots to do, not much time to do it and all that.

He chuckles again, his eyes pointedly looking as if to say "let's keep a wrap on the whole business with the Keep" and "I bet we can get paid for things we were already going to do."

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

Ayalla thanks the guards and follows their advise, heading to see the Captain before doing anything else.
Before going inside she sends Wuffles to his pocket dimension to rest.

[Amnestic]

The guards wave you through with nods of appreciation, their gazes set harder on the horizon than before, more alert.

Drellin's Ferry isn't much of a town - it might have perhaps 500 residents total in the town proper, plus perhaps as many on outlying farms and cottages. Despite its prominent position on the Dawn Way, trade goes through the town, it doesn't stay in the town, and this is barely more than a stopover for most travelers. It's certainly no hub of activity. Still, its quaint rural charm can't be denied. The threat of encroaching hobgoblins hasn't kept people in their homes; rather the Green has lines of market stalls around the edge, the doors to the taverns are open with the sounds of chatter bubbling out, and children playing around the great central tree. The guards on the edges of town allow - for now - a more peaceful existence.

The largest and sturdiest building (dwarven built, if your eyes don't mistake you) stands at the foot of where the bridge used to be. The Toll House, once upon a time, now clearly converted into a place not of business but instead of administration. Just across the way is a small, squat watch tower, manned by similarly garbed guards from before, their eyes set on the horizon, though half of them seem more interested in lazily enjoying the summer sun than actually keeping watch.

Just as you're walking into the Toll House, you're bumped into by a tall balding man of perhaps 50 years, followed by a taller-still woman in armour with a blade at her hip. They look somewhat taken aback, but quickly recover. "The adventurers I presume? We were just coming to see you. Come in, come in." He ushers you inside, and you get a better look at the interior. It seems it serves not just as a town hall, but through open doors you spot jail cells, bunk beds, and a few guards playing cards. Upstairs and across a landing, the pair take you into a small office, decorated primarily with woodcarvings and textiles - local fare, rather than anything from the big city. Whether he planned for your arrival or not, there are adequate seats for all six in the room to take a chair.

From his hands and gait, you can judge the man is unlikely to have committed much in the way of physical labour, yet the lines of work have clearly set into his aged face and salt-and-pepper beard. He speaks with a calm tenor, the measured words of someone who has had to placate customers and negotiate prices. "Introductions first, I think. I am Norro Wiston, Speaker for Drellin's Ferry, and this," he gestures to the red-headed soldier at his side, perhaps ten or twenty years his junior, "is Soranna Anitah, Captain of the Guard. I'll get right to the point: We are in a lot of trouble, and I was hoping to persuade you to help."

He takes a deep breath, before continuing. "I believe you've already encountered them, but our town is under attack. Hobgoblin raiders have been harrying our lands for several days now. Some of the outlying homesteads have been burned down and their occupants killed, and they've been attacking travelers - like yourselves."
Soranna pipes up, her voice rough with the edge of command. "We've had some trouble with them before - a raid here, a robbery there, but this...is different. It's too frequent, and almost too many of them. If they're not dealt with I'm worried that it will embolden other nearby tribes, and they'll have enough manpower to take the town." Norro nods in agreement, adding with undisguised concern: "Furthermore, the road is our lifeblood - if people stop traveling the Dawn Way for fear of hobgoblin attacks, our town will die a slow death just as surely as it would from an actual raid. So...can you help?"

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 33/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 1/3, 3rd: 1/2

"Do you know where they're coming from? Even a rough direction?" Leif asks, still hiding under her hood, "The ones that attacked us, they looked... organised. Equipped, even. It's possible they have somewhere they're using as a stronghold, somewhere they store whatever they steal."

Then a thought enters her mind. "Maybe even someone they're answering to. They had hellhounds with them and I'm pretty confident you can't buy those at a pet shop."

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

"Ayalla Nazonda at your service. Perhaps it is the will of the great spirits that I am to help you in this time of need."

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 37/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

"All of them were equipped with the same type of armor, made in the same way, and built for them instead of for proportioned for my shoulders or you full-blooded humans. Bandits don't usually have standard equipment, they have whatever they have individually stolen or deserted with. Have you seen raiders like this before?"

"We can try to help, at least as far as finding them for you and maybe taking out a few individual bands of raiders like the last one."

[Amnestic]

Norro nods at the mention of the hellhounds. "We've heard similar stories. When we thought this was a smaller raiding party we sent a dozen men west into the Witchwood. Only one returned, telling of fire breathing hounds and manticores."
Soranna retrieves a rolled up paper from the shelf behind them and rolls it out over the desk for you to look at, revealing it as a map. "If they're anywhere, I'd expect them to be in Vraath Keep. Owned by some fool landowner who thought to tame the Witchwood once upon a time, but after a giant attack saw his end it's gone abandoned. It's not in perfect condition but there's nowhere else I could see them using as a stronghold. Word is that it's haunted, but even if they know, they might not care. The Dawn Way will take you to it, or you could cut through the woods - there's an old trail not many people use. It's more direct as the crow flies, but over rougher terrain."

She finally taps a small symbol for a home. "You might also want to seek out Jorr. He's lived in the woods most his life and knows them better than anyone. It's a bit out of the way to get to his cabin, but it could be worth it if you need a woodsman's eyes."

"The raider groups we've dealt with in the past...none have been like this." Norro sighs. "Usually a squad of the town guard would be enough to scare them off, but these ones are bolder, more organised, and the monsters too..."

Spoiler: Map

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[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 27/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 2/3, 3rd: 1/2 Wuffles (Wolf Familiar) HP: 24/31, HD: 4/5, AC: 16

"Manticores and a haunted keep, sounds like the Witchwood is no place to trifle with. You say that this keep was attacked by giants, are they still active in this area?"

[Amnestic]

Norro looks to Soranna, who answers for him. "Not as much these days - they mostly keep to the hills and the northern edges. The lordling who established Vraath thought to remove them permanently which is what caused his end. They mostly come to the woods to hunt for food but if you show you're more trouble than you're worth as a meal they should leave you alone."

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 37/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

"We were thinking of heading to Vraath Keep anyway, but we thought it would probably be vacant. I'm assuming there's some sort of pay or bounty for helping take care of the bandits?"

"Are there any stories about the haunting and what caused it? Simply getting killed off by giants doesn't sound like, no ill respect meant, anything special."

Paul looks at the map, walking his fingers across it to measure distances. "We know they're watching roads. Finding Jor and going through the woods may be slower, but it would also let us approach unseen. When faceting gems or enchanting items, it's always worth listening to an expert instead of plunging ahead blindly."

[Amnestic]

"Of course, we wouldn't expect you to do this for free. I'm happy to offer 500 gold for a job complete. I'll also source some magical items from around town for you - our local druid and wizard doubtless have some things stashed away for a rainy day, and at the moment it does seem to be pouring."

"I wouldn't put much stock in the tales of the haunting myself." Norro continues. "As the tale goes after the former owner perished his vengeful spirit - angry at being killed 'before his time' - continues to haunt the keep, and that at night you can hear his ghastly wailing throughout the Witchwood." The Speaker waves a hand dismissively. "Superstition, I say. The woods have giant spiders, owlbears, trolls and the occasional shambling mound, but despite these rumours persisting for years we've not had a single case of someone actually being attacked by a ghost reported. Not one! It's just the wind and the mind playing tricks on people."